EDC promises more openness

Davidson County Economic Development Commission officials say they will be more open with the public, the media and elected officials about the information they can share.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

Davidson County Economic Development Commission officials say they will be more open with the public, the media and elected officials about the information they can share.The changes will include providing elected officials with non-disclosure agreements, generating a website and social media channels, and continuing to leave their meetings open to the press.The EDC invited various members of the media to its regular monthly meeting at Davidson County Community College on Tuesday. EDC board members and executive director Steve Googe asked questions of the press about how the commission could better release information to the public and cooperate with media members.The meeting followed an ongoing series of stories in The Dispatch that focuses on the EDC, how it operates and its past business dealings. The first story in the series included three elected officials and one former EDC member, who all said there needs to be more transparency, including the disclosure of the names of companies to elected officials and other EDC board members who are considering economic development incentives.On Tuesday, Googe said he is having non-disclosure agreements drawn up for elected officials to sign when they are provided information. Googe said the change is at the urging of the EDC board.Earlier in the meeting, Googe asked members of The Dispatch, including Executive Editor Chad Killebrew, why they thought elected officials should know the names of companies."We're just for openness," Killebrew said. "You have to trust somebody, and if my taxpayer money is going in this commission, I'd like (Davidson County Commissioner and EDC board member Larry Potts) and other elected officials to know about it."Davidson County Commissioners Todd Yates and Steve Jarvis, Thomasville City Councilman Joel Pierce and former EDC board member and current Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce President Burr Sullivan all told The Dispatch earlier this year that the EDC did not share enough information with those who make decisions on incentive packages and county projects, such as the proposed Interstate 85 industrial park near Linwood.EDC board chairman Tommy Hedrick and Googe both told stories Tuesday, which they said underline the need for confidentiality in some aspects of what the commission strives to do.Hedrick said one leak occurred about 19 years ago, when a division of Mitsubishi was considering locating near Linwood and bringing a $100 million investment and 400 employees along with them."That was a $100 million investment and 400 jobs that went to Virginia," Hedrick said. In another instance, Googe said he told an elected official the name of a company, who in turn passed that along to a member of the media. The reporter called the company to inquire about the possible expansion, and 38 workers walked out fearing the company was moving."There is no benefit of having that occur," Googe said. EDC officials also said they are working on a website, which could be used for multiple purposes, including providing information about the county, showing properties or disseminating information to the public. EDC board member and Lexington Mayor Newell Clark said EDC staff is also hoping to start social media channels to help release non-confidential information.When asked about whether further meetings will be open to the press, Googe said the meetings have always been open; however, the board does meet in closed session, where the bulk of information sharing and discussion takes place.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash